Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1887-01-08
SCHOOL INTERESTS NO. !.

". IL
---
have already said that, owing to
the nature OF his field and the stand
ard of the schools, a city superinten-
dent has not only special duties to
perform, but must possess a high
order of scholarship in order TO test
applicants for the principalship of
the High School on the higher
branches taught by that teacher.
And be it remembered that this
teacher must be fair classical schol-
ar and disciplarian, and must possess
a certificate covering the branches
taught in that department, and that
he cannot otherwise, according to
law, draw his salary from the public
funds, and Board of Education
employing a teacher without such a
certificate become personally respon.
sible for his salary.
But my object in this c0mmunica-
ton is to discuss the qualifications
common to the city and county Su-
perintendent,-an Office which ma
terially concerns teachers, commits
si0ners, trustees, and patrons who
are directly interested in the choice
of the party to fill that position.
The Superintendent is the prOfes.
sional examiner OF teachers and the
official visitor Of the schools. lie Is
the localchief and head of the schools
OF his county or district, and yet his
functions are such as to make him a
medium between school officers and
teachers. His position is an impor-
tant one, as he is able in that posi-
tioL to give character to the school
work in his jurisdiction. Hence it
is of the utmost Importance to secure
the best person for that position.
An unqualified, inefficient or indif-
ferent Superintendent will not only
prove injurious to the schools, but
will cripple the efforts of the teach
ers in self-improvement and in their
school work /; and the result will be
to bellttle the profession generally,
and retard the good work of popular
education.
This Office requires an able, intelli-
gent, and energetic public school
man,-one who understands the pro
fession in all its bearing,-one who
is alive not only to the interests OF
the schools under his immediate
care, bat to the institution as a
whole. He must he able to enlight-
en- the school officers as to their re-
lation and duties towards teachers
and patrons, and encourage them, in
all their legislation, to act for the
best interests of the schools. In his
examination of teachers he must, by
practical questions, thoroughly test
the qualifications OF all applicants,
encouraging the timid with kind
words, and fearlessly REFRESHING the
presumptuous and self.conceited.
The main requisites in a teacher
are scholarship, discipline and nat
uralness and aptness in teaching !;
and these must be possessed by the
superintendent himself to be an ex-
amplar for teachers, as we'll as to
pass intelligently, lmpartially and
satisfactorily upon their qualifica.
lions when under examination
Without these, how can he, in his
visit, fairly and thoroughly observe
and test the work done? AS well
might physician criticize and pass
Judgment upon the pleadings of a
lawyer, or a lawyer make diagno-
SIS of patients disease, as an un-
scholarly, inefficient superintendent
to perform the duties of that Office.
He should be able, when entering a
school room in his visits, to take in
the situation at once, suggest, recon-
mend, or approve as the case may
demand. He will soon be able to
tell who are competent and live
teachers, and who are not. In the
latter case he should have the moral
courage to at once recommend their
removal and the employment Of one
fitted for the position.
A superintendent is an important
factor in school machinery, and
therefore should be active in the
educational movements of the day
and keep abreast of the time. 1t is
very important, therefore, that he
should possess the capacity of public
speaking. There are many occasions
for the exercise of this faculty, and
the lack of it operates against him
and the interests he represents.
School officers are to be addressed,
enlightened and cheered in the per-
Torrance of their duties. Education
al meetings may be necessary, and
these must be addressed. Besides
he is an important factor in the
management of Institutes, and their
success may, in measure, depend
upon the tact and ability manifested
by the Superintendent.
His Office is an arduous and labor
ious one, and should be better paid
than it is at present. The right man
should be secured, and "no penny
wise and pound foolishn economy
should permit any community to lose
his services.
A superintendent possessing the
above.named qualifications, encour-
aged, aided and supported by an
intelligent and liberal-minded set OF
school officers, is benefactor, and
contributes more towards the adj
vancement of popular education than
any one man, perhaps, in the CON-
munity. VIM. GERHARDT.
DIR. Archibald A. Hodge. who